Cabaser (cabergoline)

Main use

Active ingredient

Manufacturer

Parkinson's disease

Cabergoline

Pharmacia

How does it work?

Cabaser tablets contain the active ingredient cabergoline, which
is a type of medicine called a dopamine agonist. (NB. Cabergoline is also
available without a brand name, ie as the
generic medicine.) Cabergoline works by mimicking the
activity of a substance in the brain called dopamine.

Dopamine is a substance known as a neurotransmitter.
Neurotransmitters are present in the brain and nervous system and are involved
in transmitting messages between nerves. These messages allow the normal
functioning of the body. The neurotransmitter dopamine is known to be reduced
or absent in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, and this is thought
to be the cause of the disease symptoms.

Dopamine normally transmits messages by stimulating specific
receptor sites in the brain. Cabergoline works by stimulating these same
receptor sites. This produces the same effects as dopamine, and acts as a
dopamine substitute. In this way cabergoline helps to restore the dopamine
activity in the brain, which helps reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Cabergoline can be used by itself or in conjunction with
levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease, and is particularly useful in people for
whom levodopa alone is no longer providing adequate control of symptoms.

Cabergoline can cause a drop in blood pressure when you first
start treatment, and this may cause dizziness or fainting. To minimise these
side effects the dose of cabergoline is increased slowly, usually over three to
four weeks. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist.

What is it used for?

(NB. Cabergoline is also used in lower doses to treat disorders
that result from high levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. The Cabaser
brand of cabergoline is not licensed for these uses. See the Dostinex factsheet
linked at the end of this article for more information about these other uses
of cabergoline.)

Warning!

Cabaser tablets should be taken with or after food to minimise
the chance of experiencing side effects such as nausea or
indigestion.

This medicine can occasionally cause your blood pressure to
drop when you move from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or
standing, especially when you first start taking the medicine. This may make
you feel dizzy or unsteady. To avoid this try getting up slowly. If you do feel
dizzy, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. Drinking alcohol may increase
the chance of feeling dizzy.

This medicine can cause sleepiness and on rare occasions people
have experienced a sudden onset of sleep during their daily activities. In some
cases this occured without any warning signs. Although this is uncommon, you
should exercise caution when driving or performing other potentially hazardous
activities. People who have experienced sleepiness or an episode of sudden
onset of sleep while taking this medicine should not drive or operate
machinary. Caution should be observed when drinking alcohol or taking other
medicines that cause drowsiness, as this may increase the risk of
drowsiness.

On rare occasions people taking this medicine have developed a
fibrous thickening of the lining that covers some of the internal organs
including the kidneys, the heart or the lungs. This is called a fibrotic
reaction. Your doctor may want you to have a chest
X-ray and
blood tests before starting treatment and regularly
during treatment to monitor for this. Consult your doctor if you develop any of
the following symptoms while taking this medicine, so they can be investigated:
shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, swelling of the lower legs,
pain in the lower back, or abdominal pain or tenderness.

Pathological gambling, increased sex drive and hypersexuality
have been reported in people taking dopamine agonists such as this one for
Parkinson's disease. If you think this medicine is affecting you in this way,
you should consult your doctor.

Cabaser tablets absorb moisture, so you should always replace
the cap after taking your tablets. Do not remove the special dessicant granules
from the cap, and do not transfer your tablets to another container.

You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your
doctor tells you otherwise.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or
any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
previously experienced such an
allergy.

If you feel you have
experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your
doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or
breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or
breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the
unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a
pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The manufacturer states that this medicine should not be used
in pregnancy because its safety has not been fully established. They recommend
that women who want to try for a baby should stop taking this medicine one
month beforehand. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers
because it is expected to suppress the production of breast milk. Seek medical
advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Take this medication with or after food.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual
people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are
known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated
here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that
or any side effect.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side
effects reported by the drug's
manufacturer.

For more
information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine,
please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor
or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines
you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and
herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly,
check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while
taking this one, to ensure that the
combination is safe.

This medicine is not recommended for use in combination with
other ergot alkaloid derivatives, such as pergolide, bromocriptine, lisuride,
ergotamine, dihydroergotamine or methysergide.

There may be an increased risk of a drop in blood pressure that
makes you feel dizzy if this medicine is taken in combination with other
medicines that can lower blood pressure, for example medicines to treat high
blood pressure (antihypertensives). Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy after
starting treatment with this medicine, as your doctor may need to adjust the
dose of your blood pressure medicine.

This medicine should not normally be taken in combination with
the following medicines, as these work by decreasing the activity of dopamine
in the brain and so may oppose the effect of cabergoline:

antipsychotic medicines, eg chlorpromazine,
haloperidol

metoclopramide.

Macrolide-type antibiotics such as erythromycin may possibly
increase the concentration of cabergoline in the blood, which may increase the
risk of its side effects. However, small amounts of erythromycin applied to the
skin can be used safely.

The materials in this web site are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor. The web site does not have answers to all problems. Answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone. If you notice medical symptoms or feel ill, you should consult your doctor - for further information see our Terms and conditions.